Electrical musical instrument.



J. C. DEAGAN.

ELECTRICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 12. I913.

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JEFFERSON C. DEAGAN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

ELECTRICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 2, 1215..

Application filed May 12, 1913. Serial No. 766,936.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, JEFFERSON C. DEAGAN, citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain newand use tul Improvements in Electrical Musical Tnstruments, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to music producing apparatus employing resonating elements and electro-magnets for setting them into vibration.

The invention has for one of its objects the provision of means whereby each electromagnet may be limited to one magnetization for each closure of its circuit then to produce but one musical tone, or whereby such magnet may have its magnetization repeated for each closure of its circuit by its controlling switch then to secure repetitions of the tone corresponding thereto with but one closure of its circuit controlling switch.

The invention has for another of its objects the provision of means for regulating the degree of magnetization of the magnets to govern the intensity of the tones they produce, and also the provision of means for regulating the rate of magnetization occurring when the magnets are repeatedly energized upon single closures of their circuit controlling switches.

it will explain my invention more fully by reference to the accompanying drawing diagrammatically illustrating the preferred embodiment thereof.

A suitable source of current 1, which may be in the form of a storage battery, is included between the transmission sides 2, 3. 'Electro-magnets 4., 5, 6, 7 8, 9 10 and 11 are included in normally open parallel circuits between the line sides 2 and 3. The armatures of these magnets are provided with clappers which are adapted to strike the resonating bodies C, D, E, F, G, A, B and C, that are shown in the form of bells, or other resonating elements which are tuned to produce differing musical tones. The resonating bodies illustrated are assumed to sound, when struck to vibrate, the tones C, D, E, F, G, A, B and C, said resonating bodies being marked with reference characters corresponding to the tones they are assumed to 1 sound by way of example.

' Keys 01' switches 12, 13, 14;, 15, 16, 17, 18

and 19, respectively, individual to the magnets 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 and here shown as being manually operated, are provided for closing the parallel circuits in which said magnets are included, the magnets included in the parallel circuits that are closed operating to sound the bells individual thereto, the equipment thus enabling the production of music. I do not wish to be limited to the use of switches which are manually operated.

/ lVhen the switch 20 is closed or the interrupter 21 is otherwise caused to cease its circuit interrupting function, the production of a single musical tone accompanies each closure of any parallel circuit. When switch 20 is open the interrupter 21, common to all of the keys 12, 13, etc, is included in the path of the current flowing from the battery 1 to cause the current to fluctuate whereby each closure of any parallel circuit may be accompanied by the repeated production of a musical tone, the duration of the tone-repetition depending upon the duration of parallel circuit closure and the frequency with which the current intermittently energizes the magnet in the closed parallel circuit. The interrupter 21 is shown as being driven by a motor 22 that derives current from any suitable source, such as a battery 23, the speed of the motor and the rate of circuit interruption being preferably rcgulable by a usual rheostat 2a (which may also be adjusted to open the motor circuit to stop the motor). The normal interruption may be at the rate of twenty interruptions per second, though this number may be varied to suit requirements.

With the switch 20 open or closed, that is, with the interrupter in or out of circuit, I desirably provide means for adjusting the intensity of the tones, which means preferably resides in equipment for varying the ampere turns of the magnets 4, 5, etc. The preferred means for varying the ampere turns of said magnets regulates the voltage of the current impressed by the battery 1 and includes a switch 25 for bringing more.

or less of the battery cells into circuit. As

shown, the switch 25 has four positions though the number may be varied. In the first position this switch includes but half of the battery in circuit, producing soft tones. In the next position said switch 25 adds two cells to increase the intensity of the tones, and so on, until the full battery is included in circuit to produce the loudest tones.

While I have herein shown and particularly described the preferred embodiment of my invention I do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction and circuit arrangement shown as changes may readily be made Without departing from the spirit of the invention.

' Having thus described my invention I claimas new and desire to secure by Letters 'Patent the following:

Apparatus for producing musicincluding K a plurality of sound producing elements that produce differing musical tones; electromagnets whose armatures are provided with hammers for striking said elements to set them into vibration; circuits for said electro-magnets circuit-interrupting mechanism common to the circuits of the electro-magnets and serving repeatedly to modify the ating to effect a single circuit modification:

and switches individual to the magnet circuits for preventing and permitting the operative association of said circuit interrupting mechanism and circuit governing mechanism with the magnets. i

In witness whereof, I hereunto s scribe my name this seventh day of May, A. D., 1913.

JEFFERSON C. DEAGAN. Witnesses:

EQL. WHITE, G. K. CRAGG. 

